NSW Skilled Migration Updates: What You Need to Know for 2023
After an overall disappointment amongst migrants, the requirements for skilled migration in NSW have been updated over the weekend. The biggest change has been the lift of points and work experience requirements for both 491 and 190 invitations. To help you understand how this may affect your migration pathway, we have summarized the new requirements and pathways in NSW below.
Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
The 190 is a Permanent Resident visa, which provides the holder with Australian permanent residency with no conditions.
According to the new regulations, to be considered during an invitation round, the only requirements are:
To meet the minimum points-score of 65 points on your EOI; and
To be skilled in an occupation that appears the new published NSW skills list below:
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1311 – Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers
1321 – Corporate Services Managers
1322 – Finance Managers
1323 – Human Resource Managers
1325 – Research and Development Managers
1331 – Construction Managers
1332 – Engineering Managers
1334 – Manufacturers
1335 – Production Managers
1336 – Supply, Distribution and Procurement Managers
1341 – Child Care Centre Managers
1342 – Health and Welfare Services Managers
1343 – School Principals
1351 – ICT Managers
1399 – Other Specialist Managers
1411 – Cafe and Restaurant Managers
1413 – Hotel and Motel Managers
1493 – Conference and Event Organisers
1494 – Transport Services Managers
1499 – Other Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers
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2124 – Journalists and Other Writers
2211 – Accountants
2212 – Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers
2223 – Financial Investment Advisers and Managers
2241 – Actuaries, Mathematicians and Statisticians
2243 – Economists
2245 – Land Economists and Valuers
2246 – Librarians
2247 – Management and Organisation Analysts
2249 – Other Information and Organisation Professionals
2251 – Advertising and Marketing Professionals
2253 – Public Relations Professionals
2321 – Architects and Landscape Architects
2322 – Surveyors and Spatial Scientists
2323 – Fashion, Industrial and Jewellery Designers
2324 – Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators
2325 – Interior Designers
2326 – Urban and Regional Planners
2332 – Civil Engineering Professionals
2333 – Electrical Engineers
2334 – Electronics Engineers
2336 – Mining Engineers
2339 – Other Engineering Professionals
2342 – Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists
2343 – Environmental Scientists
2345 – Life Scientists
2347 – Veterinarians
2411 – Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers
2414 – Secondary School Teachers
2415 – Special Education Teachers
2421 – University Lecturers and Tutors
2511 – Nutrition Professionals
2512 – Medical Imaging Professionals
2513 – Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals
2515 – Pharmacists
2524 – Occupational Therapists
2525 – Physiotherapists
2527 – Audiologists and Speech Pathologists / Therapists
2531 – General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers
2533 – Specialist Physicians
2541 – Midwives
2542 – Nurse Educators and Researchers
2543 – Nurse Managers
2544 – Registered Nurses
2611 – ICT Business and Systems Analysts
2612 – Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers
2613 – Software and Applications Programmers
2621 – Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
2631 – Computer Network Professionals
2632 – ICT Support and Test Engineers
2633 – Telecommunications Engineering Professionals
2711 – Barristers
2713 – Solicitors
2721 – Counsellors
2723 – Psychologists
2725 – Social Workers
2726 – Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers
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3112 – Medical Technicians
3121 – Architectural, Building and Surveying Technicians
3122 – Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3123 – Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3129 – Other Building and Engineering Technicians
3131 – ICT Support Technicians
3211 – Automotive Electricians
3212 – Motor Mechanics
3222 – Sheetmetal Trades Workers
3223 – Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
3232 – Metal Fitters and Machinists
3311 – Bricklayers and Stonemasons
3312 – Carpenters and Joiners
3322 – Painting Trades Workers
3333 – Roof Tilers
3341 – Plumbers
3411 – Electricians
3421 – Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
3423 – Electronics Trades Workers
3511 – Bakers and Pastrycooks
3512 – Butchers and Smallgoods Makers
3513 – Chefs
3514 – Cooks
3613 – Veterinary Nurses
3621 – Florists
3622 – Gardeners
3623 – Sports Turf Managers and Trades Workers
3911 – Hairdressers
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4112 – Dental Hygienists, Technicians and Therapists
4113 – Diversional Therapists
4114 – Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses
4117 – Welfare Support Workers
4523 – Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials
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5996 – Insurance Investigators, Loss Adjusters and Risk Surveyors
This is a huge change from the previous high points score and work experience requirements for 190 invitations and an amazing opportunity for migrants.
Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491)
The 491 allows migrants to stay in Australia and work in their nominated occupation in regional Australia for 5 years. It also allows visa holders to apply for permanent residence after 3 years of visa grant.
NSW has 2 different pathways for 491 invitation:
Pathway 1 - Apply directly to a Regional Development Australia (RDA) office
Stream A - Established work history with a regional NSW-based employer
This stream is available to migrants who are skilled in any occupation that is eligible for the 491 in the DHA skill occupation list. This is a huge opportunity for skilled migrants who have occupations that are not listed in the NSW occupation list.
You can apply for NSW nomination under stream A if you meet the following requirements:
To be currently living in a designated regional area of NSW and have continuously done so for the past 12 months;
Have evidence of qualifying skilled employment in the twelve months immediately before applying. The experience must be:
In your nominated (or closely related) occupation; and
With the same regional NSW-based employer;
Deemed skilled by NSW (that is, one year of experience after your date deemed skilled); and
Paid a minimum of the TSMIT salary level of $53,900 (prorated if under 38 hours per week) from your qualifying employer.
Stream B - Skills required in regional NSW
This stream does not require skilled work experience with a regional NSW-based employer. To be eligible migrants must meet the minimum points score and years of skilled work experience for their occupation on the NSW 491 stream B occupations list.
Pathway 2 - Be invited to apply by Investment NSW
There are no requirements under pathway 2 besides meeting the minimum points-score of 65 points and having a nominated occupation outlined in the NSW pathway 2 occupations list below:
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1213 – Livestock Farmers
1214 – Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmers
1311 – Advertising, Public Relations and Sales Managers
1321 – Corporate Services Managers
1323 – Human Resource Managers
1324 – Policy and Planning Managers
1325 – Research and Development Managers
1331 – Construction Managers
1332 – Engineering Managers
1335 – Production Managers
1336 – Supply, Distribution and Procurement Managers
1341 – Child Care Centre Managers
1342 – Health and Welfare Services Managers
1351 – ICT Managers
1399 – Other Specialist Managers
1411 – Cafe and Restaurant Managers
1412 – Caravan Park and Camping Ground Managers
1413 – Hotel and Motel Managers
1419 – Other Accommodation and Hospitality Managers
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2212 – Auditors, Company Secretaries and Corporate Treasurers
2244 – Intelligence and Policy Analysts
2251 – Advertising and Marketing Professionals
2253 – Public Relations Professionals
2322 – Surveyors and Spatial Scientists
2324 – Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators
2326 – Urban and Regional Planners
2332 – Civil Engineering Professionals
2333 – Electrical Engineers
2334 – Electronics Engineers
2335 – Industrial, Mechanical and Production Engineers
2336 – Mining Engineers
2339 – Other Engineering Professionals
2341 – Agricultural, Fisheries and Forestry Scientists
2342 – Chemists, and Food and Wine Scientists
2343 – Environmental Scientists
2347 – Veterinarians
2411 – Early Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teachers
2412 – Primary School Teachers
2413 – Middle School Teachers / Intermediate School Teachers
2414 – Secondary School Teachers
2415 – Special Education Teachers
2421 – University Lecturers and Tutors
2512 – Medical Imaging Professionals
2513 – Occupational and Environmental Health Professionals
2515 – Pharmacists
2523 – Dental Practitioners
2524 – Occupational Therapists
2525 – Physiotherapists
2526 – Podiatrists
2527 – Audiologists and Speech Pathologists / Therapists
2531 – General Practitioners and Resident Medical Officers
2532 – Anaesthetists
2541 – Midwives
2542 – Nurse Educators and Researchers
2543 – Nurse Managers
2544 – Registered Nurses
2611 – ICT Business and Systems Analysts
2612 – Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers
2613 – Software and Applications Programmers
2621 – Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists
2631 – Computer Network Professionals
2632 – ICT Support and Test Engineers
2713 – Solicitors
2721 – Counsellors
2723 – Psychologists
2725 – Social Workers
2726 – Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers
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3112 – Medical Technicians
3122 – Civil Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3123 – Electrical Engineering Draftspersons and Technicians
3131 – ICT Support Technicians
3211 – Automotive Electricians
3212 – Motor Mechanics
3222 – Sheetmetal Trades Workers
3223 – Structural Steel and Welding Trades Workers
3232 – Metal Fitters and Machinists
3241 – Panelbeaters
3243 – Vehicle Painters
3311 – Bricklayers and Stonemasons
3312 – Carpenters and Joiners
3322 – Painting Trades Workers
3332 – Plasterers
3333 – Roof Tilers
3334 – Wall and Floor Tilers
3341 – Plumbers
3411 – Electricians
3421 – Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanics
3422 – Electrical Distribution Trades Workers
3423 – Electronics Trades Workers
3511 – Bakers and Pastrycooks
3513 – Chefs
3514 – Cooks
3622 – Gardeners
3623 – Sports Turf Managers and Trades Workers
3624 – Nurserypersons
3911 – Hairdressers
3941 – Cabinetmakers
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4111 – Ambulance Officers and Paramedics
4113 – Diversional Therapists
4114 – Enrolled and Mothercraft Nurses
4117 – Welfare Support Workers
4523 – Sports Coaches, Instructors and Officials
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5111 – Contract, Program and Project Administrators
5996 – Insurance Investigators, Loss Adjusters and Risk Surveyors
These changes are likely to improve migrants’ chances of applying for a skilled visa. If you would like to understand your options and how these changes can impact your migration pathway, book a consultation here.
